Department for Transport

Cycling and Walking: Birmingham

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Birmingham City Council is planned to receive any funding from central government to implement the measures in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Jesse Norman: Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) provide a way for local areas to channel investment for cycling and walking from local funds and relevant national funding streams, such as the Transforming Cities Fund, Future High Streets Fund and the Housing Infrastructure Fund. It is for local authorities to decide on investment priorities for transport schemes at the local level.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Staff

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional full-time equivalent permanent members of staff that will need to be employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to cover the work dealing with European Conference of Ministers of Transport permit applications after the UK leaves the EU; and where such staff are planned to be based.

Chris Grayling: There will be no additional members of staff employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as a result of work relating to European Conference of Ministers of Transport permit applications.

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the capital contribution required by his Department to ensure the delivery of (a) southern rail access and (b) western rail access into Heathrow airport.

Andrew Jones: The Government’s position in relation to funding Surface Access at airports is set out in the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework and reiterated in the Airports National Policy Statement which was designated in June 2018. Where a scheme is not solely required to deliver airport capacity and has a wider range of beneficiaries, the Government, along with relevant stakeholders, will consider the need for a public funding contribution alongside an appropriate contribution from the airport on a case by case basis. The Government is supporting these schemes subject to the development of a satisfactory business case and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry. In line with the published Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, my Department is developing the Business Case for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow. Network Rail intends to apply for planning powers in 2019, and details of the scheme funding will be published. In May 2018, my Department launched a Market Sounding to test the market’s appetite to share the risk of development for a proposed Southern Rail Link to Heathrow in order to reduce the burden on taxpayers and fare payers. A summary of responses will be published later in the Autumn.

Heathrow Airport: Air Traffic

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) air pollution, (b) noise pollution and (c) congestion of lifting the air traffic movement cap at Heathrow Airport.

Jesse Norman: The Appraisal of Sustainability that accompanies the Airports National Policy Statement provides a strategic assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of expansion, including a) air quality and b) noise.Following designation of the Airports National Policy Statement, it is down to an applicant for development consent to undertake a detailed assessment of the environmental impacts of their scheme, and to put forward an appropriate package of mitigation measures.On c), the Airports National Policy Statement is also clear that an applicant for development consent should set out the mitigation measures that it considers are required to minimise the effect of expansion on the existing surface access arrangements. Any application, and its accompanying airport surface access strategy, must include details of how the applicant will increase the proportion of journeys made to the airport by public transport, cycling and walking.

Heathrow Airport: Pollution Control

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that expansion at Heathrow airport is compatible with legal air quality limits.

Jesse Norman: Following designation of the Airports National Policy Statement, it is now down to an applicant for development consent to undertake a detailed assessment of the air quality impacts of the scheme, including during construction, and put forward to the Planning Inspectorate an appropriate package of mitigations that addresses air quality impacts and demonstrates compliance with air quality obligations. In order to grant development consent, the Secretary of State would need to be satisfied that, including any mitigations, the scheme would be compliant with legal obligations.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has received assurances from Heathrow Airport that there are no plans to increase landing charges; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The Secretary of State has set out a clear expectation that airport charges should remain close to 2016 levels under expansion, and Heathrow Airport Limited has stated that it will seek to meet this challenge. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also confirmed in April 2018 that there are credible scenarios in which landing charges could remain close to 2016 levels in real terms.As the scheme design and regulatory framework continue to develop, the CAA will scrutinise all proposals for expansion to ensure that, in line with its primary duty, they are in the best interest of the consumer. The CAA has confirmed that this could include a small increase in airport charges if that was required to unlock the wider consumer benefits of expansion.

Department for Transport: Private Finance Initiative

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's definition is of private finance in relation to infrastructure projects.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Private finance is a way to deliver infrastructure projects in which the private sector invests equity and/or lends in order to facilitate the development, delivery, acquisition, and/or operation of a project, asset or entity with the expectation of earning a return on the investment commensurate with the risk.

Taxis: Disability

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to introduce mandatory disability awareness training for all taxi and minicab drivers.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) provide a vital service for many disabled people. However, as of March this year, only 38% of licensing authorities required drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training; I would urge the remainder to use their existing licensing powers to ensure that all taxi and PHV drivers have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide every passenger with the assistance they require. Ministers are considering the recommendations made in the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing, including those intended to improve accessibility. A Government response will be issued in due course.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Overseas Trade

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support individual regions of the UK maximise opportunities in world markets once the UK leaves the EU.

Richard Harrington: The Government’s ambitious, modern Industrial Strategy sets out a long-term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK. Every region in the UK has a role to play in boosting the national economy.As we leave the European Union and negotiate new trade deals we plan to build on our strong record of city, growth and devolution deals to ensure people and businesses in all regions of the UK can access markets and bring in the returns. To help make this a reality the government published a new vision for exports support in the Export Strategy recently. It sets a national ambition to transform our export performance and spread opportunities across all regions. We will achieve this by working with industry and partners in devolved and local governments.

Musicians: British Nationals Abroad

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of leaving the Digital Single Market on the royalties earned in EU countries by UK musicians.

Mr Sam Gyimah: No such assessment has been made to date. This is because rights holders tend to use collective management organisation (CMOs) to collect and distribute royalties earned in other EU countries. UK and EU CMOs enter into reciprocal agreements with each other to do this. These are private commercial agreements between the parties which we would expect to continue after the UK has exited the Digital Single Market.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Richard Harrington: All contracts formed by Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy contain an obligation on the contractor to pay all valid and undisputed subcontractor invoices issued under the contract within 30 days. This includes contracts created using BEIS standard terms and conditions and those created using Crown Commercial Service standard framework terms and conditions.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Democratic Republic of Congo: Torture

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the the use of torture in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: The Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Okitundu in October. I met with him during the United Nations General Assembly in September and with a range of government contacts when I visited the DRC in April. We made clear that we have zero tolerance for any human rights abuses or violations of international humanitarian law. The UK played a key role at the June 2018 Human Rights Council, which mandated the UN Joint Human Rights Office to document and profile human rights violations in DRC.

Tanzania: Homosexuality

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take to protest the Tanzanian government’s recent steps against gay citizens; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: I am concerned by reports of threats against the LGBT community in Tanzania. The British High Commission, alongside international partners, carried out a demarche on the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 November, urging the authorities to respect human rights and protect all citizens from discrimination. I welcome the Government of Tanzania's statement on 4 November making clear that such threats do not represent government policy, and that it will protect human rights as enshrined in the country's constitution. We must all reject language that invites violence against any group in society.

Charles Wesco

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the circumstances surrounding the death of United States missionary, Charles Wesco, in the town of Bamenda, Cameroon, on 30 October 2018.

Harriett Baldwin: We were saddened by the reports of Mr Wesco's death and send our deepest condolences to his family. All missionaries and humanitarian workers should be able to work and support communities safely. The Cameroon authorities are conducting a formal investigation into his death.

Cameroon: Prisoners

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Cameroon on the detention without charge of journalists Elvis McCarthy, Thomas Awah Junior, Michel Biem Tong, Tsi Conrad and Mancho Bibixy.

Harriett Baldwin: The British Government continues to make clear our expectation that freedom of expression and of the media must be respected in Cameroon. We continue to discuss this issue at senior levels with the Government of Cameroon. All journalists have the right to work without fear of being detained without charge, including in the cases of Elvis McCarthy, Thomas Awah Junior, Michel Biem Tong, Tsi Conrad and Mancho Bibixy.

Tanzania: Politics and Government

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of charges of sedition against former members of the Government of Tanzania on the democratic process in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK remains concerned about the closing down of political space in Tanzania. Following the recent arrest and detention beyond the period allowed without charge of Zitto Kabwe, a prominent opposition leader, the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 November, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Government of Tanzania.

Tanzania: LBGT People and Political Parties

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the Government of Tanzania on the level of the threat to (a) the LGBT community and (b) supporters of opposition parties in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: I am concerned by reports of threats against the LGBT community in Tanzania. The British High Commission, alongside international partners, carried out a demarche on the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 November, urging the authorities to respect human rights and protect all citizens from discrimination. I welcome the Government of Tanzania's statement on 4 November making clear that such threats do not represent government policy, and that it will protect human rights as enshrined in the country's constitution. We must all reject language that invites violence against any group in society. The UK will also continue to raise the importance of wider political freedoms with the Government of Tanzania.

China: Organs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request from his EU and US counterparts the evidence that led to their respective parliaments passing resolutions to condemn forced organ harvesting in China.

Mark Field: We are aware of reports that allege that a process of involuntary organ removal may be taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. The British government fully supports the Declaration of Istanbul (May 2008), which encourages all countries to draw up legal and professional frameworks to govern organ donation and transplantation activities.Reports by authors such as Kilgour, Gutmann and Matas are important sources of information about China’s organ transplant system. They rightly question the lack of transparency in China’s organ transplant system, whilst acknowledging that it is very difficult to identify the source of those organs and verify the number of organ transplants conducted in China. However we do not agree with the claims of systematic organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience, assessing that the evidence they present does not substantiate such a claim.The World Health Organisation (WHO) collates global data on organ donations and works with China. The WHO view is that China is implementing an ethical, voluntary organ transplant system in accordance with international standards, although the WHO does have concerns about overall transparency.We continue to review available evidence on this issue.

Tanzania: Politics and Government

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of the grounds for the detention of the Tanzanian MP Zitto Kabwe by that country’s security services on 31 October 2018.

Harriett Baldwin: The British Government is concerned about the arbitrary arrest of opposition parliamentarians in Tanzania. Most recently on 2 November, following the arrest and detention of MP Zitto Kabwe the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We have subsequently also raised the case with the Minister of Home Affairs. Additionally, the High Commissioner met with Zitto Kabwe on 7 November to hear first hand his account of his detention and subsequent treatment.

Tanzania: Politics and Government

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the prospects for fair and impartial trials of members of the Tanzanian parliament facing criminal charges in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: The British Government is concerned about the arbitrary arrest and detention of opposition parliamentarians in Tanzania and the deteriorating space for democracy and human rights. Most recently on 2 November, following the arrest and detention of an opposition MP the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam raised the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Tanzanian authorities to follow due process. We have subsequently also raised the case with the Minister of Home Affairs.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Pakistani counterpart on religious freedom in that country since the Pakistani Supreme Court ruling on Asia Bibi.

Mark Field: We regularly raise our concerns about the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and the protection of minority religious communities, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. We will continue to work tirelessly to defend and promote the rights of peoples of all faiths and none so that they can practise their faith or belief without fear or discrimination. We are monitoring this case closely and working with our international partner.

Sudan: Military Attachés

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November Question 185485 on Sudan: Military Attachés, whether the UK military attaché has been present at a graduation ceremony for the Rapid Support Forces soldiers since May 2017.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The UK Defence Attaché has not been present at a Rapid Support Forces' graduation ceremony since May 2017.

United Arab Emirates: Prisoners

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made with his Emirati counterpart on the recent allegations of systematic torture and abuse of female prisoners in Abu Dhabi’s al-Watbha jail.

Alistair Burt: We are not aware of allegations relating to mistreatment or torture of female prisoners in Al-Watbha jail and have not made representations on this matter. Where the UK has concerns about human rights, we continue to raise them in private with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or in partnership with the EU Delegation to the United Arab Emirates

Seabed: Mining

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide the names of the four independent experts the Government has appointed to advise on deep sea mining.

Sir Alan Duncan: We are not aware of the supposed four experts to which the Hon Member refers.

Tanzania: LGBT People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Government of Tanzania on LGBT rights in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: I am concerned by reports of threats against the LGBT community in Tanzania. The British High Commission, alongside international partners, carried out a demarche on the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 2 November, urging the authorities to respect human rights and protect all citizens from discrimination. I also issued a statement on the importance of rejecting language that incites violence against any group in society.I welcome the Government of Tanzania's statement on 4 November making clear that such threats do not represent government policy, and that it will protect human rights as enshrined in the country's constitution. Following this statement, the British High Commissioner in Tanzania met the Minister for Home Affairs on 7 November and again raised our concerns over any language that encourages discrimination against any group in society.

Yemen: UN Security Council

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to the Answer of 10 July 2018 to Question 160081 on Yemen: UN Security Council, what recent steps his Department is taking to use the UK’s penholder status on Yemen at the UN Security Council to bring a new resolution forward.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to fulfil its role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council by coordinating sessions with the Security Council President that respond to developments in Yemen and the will of the Council as a whole. Both the Foreign Secretary and I have recently visited the Middle East to have constructive discussions with the Saudi-led Coalition on pathways to achieve de-escalation and reduce tensions. The Foreign Secretary was clear that both sides would need to play their part in confidence-building measures. Meanwhile, the UK will continue discussions with partners on how the UN Security Council can support the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths' on the political process and improving the humanitarian situation. This will include discussions on the draft UN Security Council Resolution on Yemen ahead of a Security Council briefing on the issue on 16 November.

Cameroon: Politics and Government

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Cameroon, and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: ​We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the Anglophone regions of the country and in the extreme north of the country, where Cameroon is fighting the terrorist group Boko Haram. The British Government welcomes the role Cameroon and its neighbours are playing in the campaign against Boko Haram. We call on the Government of Cameroon to take urgent action to address the Anglophone crisis and we hope that President Biya will reach out to all sections of Cameroonian society and work to build confidence and trust. In my statement of 23 October I reiterated that it is crucial for all parties to engage in a peaceful and structured process leading to constitutional reforms, as previously set out by the President, and avoid excessive use of force. The UK will continue to work alongside the international community to encourage and support efforts to resolve the Anglophone crisis.

Department of Health and Social Care

Rare Diseases: Drugs

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with the Scottish Government on the (a) Patient and Clinician Engagement system, (b) its effect on approval rates for new rare disease medicines in Scotland and (c) potential lessons from that system for NHS England.

Steve Brine: Officials have had no such discussions. Health is a devolved matter and the availability of medicines for the treatment of rare diseases in Scotland is an issue for the Scottish Government.

Breast Cancer

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help prevent cases of secondary breast cancer.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on the diagnosis and management of early and locally advanced breast cancer, published in July 2018, addresses the prevention of secondary breast cancer, including preventative medicine, surgery and lifestyle. Local National Health Service commissioners should take NICE guidance into account when planning services for local populations. The full guidance can be viewed at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng101

Cancer: Nurses

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of cancer clinical nurse specialists in (a) England , (b) London and (c) the London Borough of Lewisham.

Steve Brine: Data is not available in the format requested.

Genetics: Screening

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in England have been referred for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing in each year since 2013-14.

Steve Brine: NHS England does not currently hold this data.

Genetics: Screening

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of Clinical Commissioning Groups fund family history clinics.

Steve Brine: NHS England does not hold information on the number of family history clinics in operation. As set out in the Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services 2018/19 NHS England commissions genetics services, including genetic testing for inherited cancer through the Genomic Laboratory Hubs and the genetic clinical service through the Regional Clinical Genetics Services.

Prescriptions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to prevent patients from gaining commercially from prescriptions.

Steve Brine: Clinicians will only prescribe medicines that they believe are in the clinical interest of the patient, and in line with best clinical practice guidelines, including those developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Clinicians will weigh the benefits and risks of any medicine for an individual patient before making a prescribing decision. The prescribing options should be discussed carefully with the patient. Where there is evidence of diversion and illicit supply of medicines from legitimate prescriptions, the Government may consider scheduling of medicines under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which includes strict controls on the prescription, supply and monitoring of medicines.

Neuromuscular Disorders: Leicester

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of  respiratory physiotherapy for (a) children and (b) adults with muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular conditions provided by (i) Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group and (ii) University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Steve Brine: No specific assessment has been made. NHS England has published service specifications for the neurological care of both children and adults which include exemplar service specifications for neuromuscular conditions. They set out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. This includes access to physiotherapy and respiratory services. This guidance can be found via the following the links: www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/E09-S-b-Paediatric-Neurosciences-Neurology.pro_.2013.04.v2.pdf www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf

Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2017 to Question 119869 on Charles Bonnet Syndrome, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people diagnosed with that syndrome in the last year; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people living with that syndrome receive adequate levels of treatment and support.

Steve Brine: No estimate has been made by the Department of the number of people diagnosed with Charles Bonnet Syndrome in the last year, it is not part of the Department’s role to directly raise awareness of any individual diseases with National Health Service clinicians. The NHS website provides information on a number of diseases including Charles Bonnet Syndrome. This can be found at the following link: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/charles-bonnet-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Cancer: Screening

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the average number of colonoscopy procedures conducted by an endoscopist each year; and whether the commitment to increase the number of endoscopists in Health Education England's cancer workforce plan will be sufficient to deliver the new faecal immunochemical screening test.

Steve Brine: NHS England and the screening centres have completed an assessment of screening endoscopy capacity, taking into account a number of factors including workforce. This will inform the implementation plan for rolling out the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) into the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Health Education England is working with Public Health England and NHS England to continue detailed workforce planning to deliver national screening programmes such as FIT and ensure alignment with the national Workforce Strategy.

Pathology

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the provision of histopathologists to meet future demand.

Steve Brine: Health Education England (HEE) published its first ever Cancer Workforce Plan in December 2017, which commits to the expansion of capacity and skills including an ambition to increase improved working practices, attracting qualified people back to the National Health Service through domestic and international recruitment. This included 94 full time equivalent additional histopathologists to support an increase in the capacity for earlier diagnosis. Following the commitment to lower the bowel screening age to 50 and roll out the Faecal Immunology Test, HEE has been engaging with stakeholders to ensure that the cancer workforce, including histopathologists, is sufficient for future cancer services.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the ability of the NHS long-term plan to (a) tackle the evolving challenges of cancer and (b) ensure that people are able to access personalised and tailored support after they have finished cancer treatment itself.

Steve Brine: The NHS Long Term Plan provides an excellent opportunity to look at how cancer and other services can be further improved over the next decade. The plan is currently in development and will be published later in the year.

Patients: Social Security Benefits

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to Clinical Commissioning Groups on charging for letters which patients require in order to progress benefits claims.

Steve Brine: Under the terms of their contracts, as set out in National Health Service (General Medical Services (GMS) Contracts) and (Personal Medical Services (PMS) Agreements) Regulations 2015), general practitioners (GPs) must provide medical certificates to prove incapacity to work free of charge and cannot charge their registered patients for anything other than specific items as set out in the PMS Regulations. This includes some letters and medical reports, such as private sick notes or immunisations in connection with travel abroad. GPs must provide these statements of incapacity to professionals working for the Health Assessment Advisory Service (part of the Department for Work and Pensions) when requested. If other statutory bodies are requesting this information to support a benefits claim, GPs are entitled to charge for this information, but the body requesting it must pay this charge rather than the patient.

GP Surgeries: Payments

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the alleged practice of GP surgeries receiving payments for so-called ghost patients still registered at that GP practice but who have died or moved to a different area.

Steve Brine: NHS England has confirmed that Capita will shortly recommence list maintenance for all practices across England in accordance with NHS England policy, guidance and agreed standard operating procedures. This is to ensure that the lists of registered patients are as accurate as possible. General practitioner (GP) practice list maintenance is part of NHS England’s contract with Primary Care Support England, which is delivered by Capita. GP practices also have a duty to maintain their registered patient lists in a current and accurate state.

NHS: Civil Proceedings

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much has been spent by (a) Health Education England and (b) Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust on (i) legal fees and (ii) other costs associated with defending legal action brought by Dr Chris Day.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department is aware that Dr Chris Day took legal action against Health Education England (HEE) and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, between 2014-18, which was settled on the basis of him withdrawing the claim. HEE spent a total of £433,000.00 on legal fees and costs, which includes £55,000, which was previously agreed legal costs to Dr Chris Day. Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust spent a total of £285,500.00 plus VAT in legal fees and does not have any other associated costs.

Social Services: Minimum Wage

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether provisions will be made for sleep-in shift payments in the upcoming green paper on social care.

Caroline Dinenage: An ageing society means that we need to reach a longer-term sustainable settlement for social care. This is why the Government has committed to publishing a Social Care Green Paper setting out its proposals for reform. The Green Paper will cover a range of issues including funding, workforce, carers and commissioning. It is right that social care funding is agreed alongside the rest of the local government settlement at the forthcoming spending review.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is reduce the number of working days lost as a result of musculoskeletal disorders; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will include musculoskeletal disorders in the long-term plan for the NHS to reduce loss of working days; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: In 2017, there was a historic low of working days lost due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) related sickness absence. However, MSK disorders remain the second largest reason for working days lost due to sickness absence – second only to minor illnesses (like colds and flu)1. This is why in ‘Improving Lives, the Future of Work, Health and Disability’2 this Government committed itself to ensuring that individuals suffering from MSK disorders get higher-quality, more joined up support - in the workplace and across the health and welfare systems. The Government’s own strategy, includes research to build our understanding of existing MSK provision and piloting new models of service provision. The intention is to build our understanding of ‘what works’ to improve employment outcomes for individuals with MSK disorders, in order to inform future action. The Government expects National Health Service leaders, clinicians and experts to develop the long-term plan to ensure that the NHS can cope with the serious demand and cost pressures it faces in the future. The plan should be published later this year. Notes: 1Labour Force Survey person datasets, ONS. 2018. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/labourproductivity/articles/sicknessabsenceinthelabourmarket/2016 2Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability November 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-lives-the-future-of-work-health-and-disability

Ovarian Cancer: Health Education

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer to improve early detection.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) has run a number of ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ (BCOC) campaigns to help improve early detection of cancer. In 2014 PHE ran a regional ovarian cancer campaign in the North West of England, and in 2017 a pilot which focussed on a range of abdominal symptoms, such as diarrhoea, bloating and discomfort that can be indicative of a number of cancers, including ovarian cancer was carried out in the East and West Midlands. PHE is currently undertaking new data analysis and research to determine the future direction of BCOC activity in 2019/20 and will take into consideration the outcomes of these previous campaigns. PHE will also consult with NHS England on the timings and location of any future campaigns.

Strokes

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of stroke survivors are given a rehabilitation assessment before they are discharged; what steps he is taking to ensure that all patients receive that assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme for the year April 2017 to March 2018 (which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland) shows that 83.8% of patients spend at least 90% of their hospital stay on a specialist stroke unit, all of which provide coordinated multidisciplinary care and rehabilitation and that almost everyone with a stroke disability received in-patient therapy assessment.

Palliative Care: Children

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to monitor how effectively (a) sustainability and transformation partnerships, (b) integrated care systems, (c) clinical commissioning groups and (d) local authorities are supporting children's palliative care in accordance with their legal duties.

Caroline Dinenage: Sustainability and transformation partnerships and integrated care systems are made up of bodies including local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, which retain statutory responsibility for providing health and care services for the populations they serve. These include a range of services involved in children’s palliative care. NHS England and the Department would expect all of these partners to be regularly talking to, and working with, relevant organisations given their remit to identify overall local need and to join up services. NHS England is also working with commissioners, clinicians, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and people with lived experience to refresh the children’s palliative and end of life care service specification and the commissioning pathway, to reflect collective responsibilities across health and social care. Work will continue on this until spring 2019. NHS England is also making available guidance across the sector to support good practice, including sharing examples.

NHS Foundation Trusts: Debts

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the outstanding debts of NHS Foundation trusts in (a) Dulwich and West Norwood constituency, (b) Greater London and (c) England.

Stephen Barclay: The Department and entities within its accounting boundary report on the basis of European Union Adopted International Financial Reporting Standards as interpreted and adapted for the public sector by HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual. Debt is not a specific classification of liability that is reported by entities including National Health Service foundation trusts. To provide a total liability amount for NHS foundation trusts, either current and payable within 12 months or non-current and due to be settled beyond 12 months from the end of the financial year, would therefore include items which the Department would not expect to be viewed as debt. For this reason, the Department has interpreted the term ‘debt’ to refer to outstanding balances on loans both with the Department and with Other Entities. The attached table identifies the total level of loans outstanding for NHS foundation trusts as at 31 March 2018, on a current and non-current basis. Loans held with the Department are eliminated on consolidation to arrive at the Group’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. As part of presenting a consolidated set of accounts, all intra group activity (including income, expenditure, assets and liabilities generated by intra group trading) is eliminated, so as to not overstate the Group position. For individual NHS foundation trusts these loans with the Department represent a debt, but this is not the case in regards to the Group position presented in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts as balances held and transactions related to the loans held are eliminated.



PQ189765 attached table
(Word Document, 23.45 KB)

Dental Health: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce levels of tooth decay in children in regions in which such decay is significantly above the national average.

Steve Brine: In England local authorities (LAs) are responsible for assessing the oral health needs of their local population, developing oral health strategies and commissioning oral health improvement programmes to meet the needs of their local population. In May 2018 Public Health England (PHE) published a stocktake which reported on oral health improvement programmes, commissioned by local authorities targeting children under five years old in England. Of the 95% of LAs who responded, the majority are commissioning oral health improvement programmes for under-fives. The stocktake can be viewed at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/707180/Oral_health_improvement_programmes_commissioned_by_local_authorities.pdf NHS England has launched ‘Starting Well: A Smile4Life Initiative’. This programme of dental practice-based initiatives aims to reduce oral health inequalities and improve oral health in children under the age of five. The programme has been launched in 13 high priority areas chosen on the basis of decay experience at a LA level and existing oral health improvement plans.

Dental Health: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what portion of the public health budget has been allocated to paediatric dentistry in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: The public health budget does not fund NHS services. NHS services are funded through the National Health Service general budget which is held for dentistry by NHS England which is responsible for commissioning NHS dental services.

Dental Health: Children

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the government has made of the effect of the (a) sugar tax and (b) ban on energy drinks for people under the age of 16 on improving child dental health.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to improve food labelling to tackle levels of tooth decay.

Steve Brine: There has been no specific assessment of the effect of the soft drinks industry levy or ending the sale of energy drinks to children on improving child dental health. These measures, together with other commitments in our childhood obesity plan, will have an impact on reducing sugar intake, a high consumption of which has been associated with a greater risk of tooth decay.

AAT Deficiency

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of treatments available through the NHS for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not currently recommend any specific treatment for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD). NHS England is engaging with NICE on the Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation of human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor for treating emphysema in adults with documented severe AATD (ID856). NICE has not yet published final guidance and recently consulted on its draft guidance. NICE’s evaluation committee is due to meet again to consider its recommendations in due course.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether UK official development assistance supports the work of agencies cited for human rights abuses in the October 2018 Human Rights Watch report Two authorities, one way, zero dissent.

Alistair Burt: UK Official Development Assistance does not provide financial assistance or assets to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) agencies implicated in the Human Rights Watch report and continues to have a no contact policy with Hamas in its entirety. The report has made some serious and concerning allegations about human rights violations by the PA and we have immediately raised our concerns with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior. We continue to urge the PA to respect human rights, to ensure complaints of mistreatment or arbitrary detention are properly investigated and to continue to improve the performance of the security sector. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) currently delivers training courses and supports the development of training institutions across the Palestinian Authority security sector. Participants from two agencies referenced in the report, the Preventative Security Organisation and General Intelligence Service, have attended courses delivered by the MOD and by training institutions that are supported by the MOD. These courses serve to reinforce accountability, responsible governance and a common approach to the upholding of human rights and human rights law.

Department for International Development: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) her Department and (ii) the Government Equalities Office in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what was the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) her department and (ii) the Government Equalities Office, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Harriett Baldwin: The Department for International Development’s electricity and gas usage and costs in its UK headquarters for the years 2014/15 - 2017/18 are as follows: 2015-162016-172017-18Electricity Consumption (thousand Kwh)Cost (£'000)Electricity Consumption (thousand Kwh)Cost (£'000)Electricity Consumption (thousand Kwh)Cost (£'000)3,7054733,4774313,528482Gas Consumption (thousand Kwh)Cost (£'000)Gas Consumption (thousand Kwh)Cost (£'000)Gas Consumption (thousand Kwh)Cost (£'000)901251,188291,06330  The Government Equalities Office is physically based in the Department for Education. As such, the quantity and cost of electricity and natural gas used by the Government Equalities Office is subsumed within the Department for Education’s consumption figures. These can be found in response to written questions 188849 and 188850.

G7: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to encourage other G7 countries to meet the 0.7 per cent of gross national income target on aid.

Harriett Baldwin: We believe it is for other governments to decide what percentage of gross national income (GNI) they allocate as Official Development Assistance (ODA).In representing one of the few donors that meet the 0.7% ODA commitment and the 0.15-0.2% spending target in the Least Developed Countries, the Secretary of State highlights our ongoing commitment to the UN targets and the importance we attach to development financing in her engagement with international partners, including the G7.

Yemen: Internally Displaced People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate she has made of the number of internally displaced persons in Yemen; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimate that up to three million people have been displaced since the conflict began in Yemen in 2015. IOM reports that over 455,040 people were displaced from and within Hodeidah governorate between 1 June and 23 October 2018, and that over 80,000 people have been displaced from and within Hajjah governorate since 1 June 2018. Last year the UK provided protection assistance, including primary health services, legal assistance and support in response to sexual violence, to over 200,000 vulnerable people through IOM and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Yemen: Civilians

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help safeguard the 300,000 civilians trapped in Hodeidah, Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is monitoring the resumption of hostilities in and around Hodeidah closely. We have consistently made clear, the Coalition must ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows both through the port and onwards across the country. For their part, the Houthis must not compromise civilian facilities (such as Hodeidah port as well as schools, hospitals and food storage facilities) and allow unhindered access to humanitarian agencies throughout areas they are control. UK aid partners continue to deliver life-saving support on the ground as part of our £170 million response in Yemen this year, including cash transfers to 21,000 people displaced from Hodeidah, as well as access to 75,000 litres of clean water a day.

Department for Education

Members: Correspondence

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to respond to the letter of 12 September 2018 from the hon. Member for Croydon North on Chestnut Park Primary School and the early identification of social, emotional and mental health needs in children and young people.

Nadhim Zahawi: A response from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families was originally sent to the hon. Member for Croydon North on 10 October 2018. A copy of this letter was sent to the hon. Member for Croydon North on 12 November 2018.

Basic Skills: Surveys

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to conduct a further Skill for Life Survey which was last carried out in 2011.

Anne Milton: This government recognises the importance of English, maths and digital skills, both in work and everyday life. That is why we will be participating in the next round of The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s second Survey of Adult Skills in 2021 – an international research project that will provide invaluable information about the performance of our national skills system and how it compares internationally. Data will be collected in 2021-22 with publication of the results in 2023. As a result, the department is not currently planning to conduct a further Skills for Life Survey (which was last carried out in 2011).The Survey of Adult Skills has very similar coverage to Skills for Life in terms of age (16 – 65), and is a direct measure of adults’ core skills in literacy, numeracy and information and communications technology, triangulated with their qualifications, employment and use of skills both within and outside of work. In addition, the data from the Survey of Adult Skills is internationally comparable, unlike Skills for Life 2011.

Literacy

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve adult literacy rates.

Anne Milton: This government recognises the importance of English, both in work and everyday life. That is why we provide full funding for adult learners in England to secure English qualifications from entry level to level 2.To raise standards of adult literacy, we are reforming English Functional Skills qualifications, which are accessed primarily by adults. This will make sure that these qualifications are more rigorous and better recognised by employers.Through the Flexible Learning Fund, we are investing over £11 million to design and test ways of delivering learning to adults with low or intermediate skills more flexibly.

Students: Loans

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his Department's policy is on the collection of payments for (a) ordinary student loans and (b) student maintenance loans from recipients of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The repayment of student loans is governed by the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009 (as amended).Borrowers, whether in receipt of universal credit or not, do not start making repayments to their student loans until they earn above the relevant repayment threshold. Once earning over the repayment threshold, the amount a borrower will repay each month is linked to their income, not to the amount borrowed or to the rate of interest.Further information about repaying student loans can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan.

Children: Day Care

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many approved childcare providers were located in Wolverhampton North East constituency in each of the last seven years for which data are available.

Nadhim Zahawi: This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Children: Day Care

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many approved childcare providers currently offer 30 hours of free childcare a week in Wolverhampton North East constituency.

Nadhim Zahawi: The information requested is not held centrally. Specifically, information is not held at constituency level. On 28 June 2018, we published data which indicated that the number of childcare providers offering 30 hours free childcare in Wolverhampton was 80. This information can be found in Table 23LA of the ‘Education provision: children under 5 years of age, January 2018’ document: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018.

Migrant Workers: Fees and Charges

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 185043, for what reasons the income from the Immigration Skills Charge was not presented to Parliament as detailed in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 185043, what review has taken place of the Immigration Skills Charge, as is set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017.

Anne Milton: Information on income received from the immigration skills charge (ISC) payments for 2017/18 will be available once the Home Office Trust Statement has been audited by the National Audit Office and published. An internal review of the ISC was undertaken in Quarter 2 2018, based on Home Office data.

Pupil Exclusions

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of children excluded from school; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department supports head teachers in using exclusion where this is warranted. There has been a increase in exclusions recently, though there are still fewer exclusions than a decade ago.In March, the Government launched an externally-led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review is exploring how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics are more likely to be excluded from school. It is also considering the differences in exclusion rates across primary and secondary schools in England.The review will report at the beginning of next year. The full terms of reference for the review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusions-review-terms-of-reference.

Pupil Exclusions

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has received on giving exclusion review panels the right to reinstate pupils in schools; and and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The role of the independent review panel is to review a governing body’s decision not to reinstate a permanently excluded pupil. Where a panel considers that the decision of the governing body to uphold the exclusion is flawed it can quash the decision and require the governing body to reconsider the case. The final decision on whether to reinstate the child is with the governing body. The Government believes that schools are best placed to make that decision taking into account the wider impact of reinstatement on other pupils at the school. Where a governing body is directed to reconsider their decision but does not reinstate the pupil, the school will be expected to pay an additional financial contribution towards the costs of providing an alternative education for that pupil.The Department believes that independent review panels provide for a quick, fair and accessible process for reviewing exclusion decisions, in a way that takes account of the rights of the wider school community.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Public Expenditure

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish (a) the change in his Department's budget in real terms in each year since 2010; and what the projected change will be in real terms in each year to 2022.

Rory Stewart: The table below shows the annual change in the Ministry of Justice’s available funding from HM Treasury and Income in real terms to 2019/20. Budgets for the years 2020/21 and 2021/22 will be set in the next Spending Review. The figures below represent actual funding received for 2010/11 – 2017/18, and forecast figures for 2018/19 – 2019/20.  2010/ 112011/ 122012/ 132013/ 142014/ 152015/ 162016/ 172017/ 182018/ 1922019/ 202   Fiscal Resource DEL Funding19.89.89.59.08.78.58.78.98.18.0Funding (restated in 2018/19 prices)11.111.010.49.89.38.99.09.18.17.9   Annual real terms increase/(decrease)-1%-5%-6%-5%-4%1%1%-10%-3%Cumulative real terms decrease-1%-6%-12%-16%-20%-19%-19%-27%-29%1 Includes funding from HM Treasury and Income (inc. fees, fines and income from OGDs). Excludes depreciation and capital spend. 2 Based on the SR15 Settlement, with revisions as agreed at AS16. The Ministry continues to engage with HM Treasury on the department’s funding requirements ahead of the Spending Review in 2019.

Prisons: Finance

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministry of Justice secures extra £52 million for targeted expenditure, published on 30 October 2018, how much of the £30 million allocated to prisons this financial year will be spent on (a) staff, (b) maintenance, (c) new equipment, (d) training and (e) other categories of spending.

Rory Stewart: The additional funding for targeted expenditure is intended to be spent on maintenance and safety in our prisons. The Department is currently working on allocating the exact split of funding across the prison service, and consequently, we do not have the funding broken down by the category of spend you have requested.

Probation: Death

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 184996 on Probation: Death, if he will provide that information for each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart: The information requested is provided in the attached table. As per the answer to PQ 184996, please note that offenders may appear both within the caseload figures of court orders (including community orders and suspended sentence orders), and post-release supervision. The National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies work closely with other agencies to support offenders in the community. When an offender being supervised by Probation dies, the Probation provider must examine the circumstances of the death and identify areas to improve practice. While we work extremely closely with each offender before and after release to help them find the support they need, we do not have sole responsibility for caring for these offenders. We are clear, however, that they should receive the same level of care as other members of the public.

Prisons: Sexual Offences

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October to Question 182159 on Prisons: Sexual Offences, what support his Department provides to prisoners who report sexual assault.

Rory Stewart: Any sexual assault that takes place in prison is deplorable, and all reported incidents are referred to the police for investigation. In 2017 less than 1.3% of all reported assaults on prisoners were sexual assaults. We are committed to reducing violence in prison and we encourage prisoners to report assaults, so that we can take action against perpetrators and support victims. The most important support that we can provide is to ensure that all allegations are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, and that appropriate action is taken if they are proven. The nature of any further support provided will depend on the circumstances of the case and the prisoner’s preferences, as well as an assessment of the risk of repeat victimisation. At its most straightforward this involves ensuring that further contact between person reporting the assault and the alleged perpetrator is prevented. Where this involves moving one or more prisoners between wings or prisons, it must not be to the reporter’s detriment. Ongoing support may include increased supervision of the reporter by prison staff, who may also work with them to build their sense of security and to restore their confidence. We expect our new key workers to play a growing role in work such as this. Finally, it may also include referral to other sources of help, such as peer supporters, healthcare staff, or more specialist support services from outside the prison.

Legal Aid Scheme: Telephone Services

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of support for the Civil Legal Advice housing and debt telephone service in order to ensure continued provision of specialist advice and assistance through contracted firms and that those firms are properly paid for the services they provide.

Lucy Frazer: An assessment of the Civil Legal Advice housing and debt telephone service will be made as part of the Post-Implementation Review of Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which we intend to publish by the end of the year.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time was for (a) personal independence payment and (b) employment support allowance appeal hearings in the last 12 months for which data is available.

Lucy Frazer: Information about the average waiting times of appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS) for (a) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and (b) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, 3.5 million decisions have been made up to June 2018, and of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned at Tribunals. For ESA, 3.5m ESA (post Work Capability Assessment) decisions have been made between April 2014 and March 2018 and of these 8% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals.

Employment Tribunal Service

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the number of claims made to the Employment Tribunal was by region in the 12 months to (a) 1 August 2013 and (b) 1 August 2017.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested can be found in Annex C – Employment Tribunal Receipts Table within the published statistics and can be viewed using the following link.www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2018

Prison Sentences

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were sentenced to prison for less than (a) three months and (b) six months for each Home Office offence code in 2017.

Rory Stewart: The number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody for (a) up to and including 3 months and (b) over 3 months and up to and including 6 months for each Home Office offence code in 2017 can be viewed in the table. Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, who take into account all circumstances of the case, including any aggravating and mitigating factors. Whilst there is persuasive evidence that short custodial sentences do not help some offenders turn their backs on crime, protecting the public will always be our top priority. Under this government, the most serious offenders are more likely to go to prison, and for longer, helping protect the public and keep communities safe. Our message is simple – if you commit a serious offence, you should expect to go to prison. We will not reduce the prison population just to save money.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 29.89 KB)

Ministry of Justice: Living Wage

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employees of his Department earn less than the Living Wage as increased by the Living Wage Foundation on 5 November 2018.

Edward Argar: The UK Living Wage (sometimes referred to as the ‘Real Living Wage’) and the London Living Wage, are both voluntary rates set by the Living Wage Foundation. These are not statutory figures which relate to the government policy in this area, and so are not legally binding on employers. The statutory minimum rates are the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. For comparison, the National Living Wage is currently £7.83 per hour, and increased by 4.4% in April 2018. The increases in the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage have produced increases for over 2 million workers this year, across the economy, and increased pay by £2,000 for those on the minimum rate, since these statutory arrangements were introduced. All MoJ employees are paid at least the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage. 1643 staff employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ HQ, HMCTS, LAA, OPG and CICA) and 561 by HMPPS who work outside Greater London are paid at a rate below the Real National Living Wage of £9 per hour. 517 staff employed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ HQ, HMCTS, LAA, OPG and CICA) and 27 by HMPPS who work inside Greater London are paid a rate below the London Living wage of £10.55 per hour.

Department for International Trade

Government Departments: Procurement

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent progress has been made on securing UK participation in the plurilateral Government Procurement Agreement.

George Hollingbery: We remain committed to maintaining participation of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and ensuring that UK businesses can continue to access government procurement opportunities overseas. The UK market access offer, which is in line with our current rights and obligations in the GPA, was circulated formally to WTO GPA parties in June and discussed at the GPA Committee meetings on 27 June and 17 October. Officials have engaged extensively and openly with all GPA parties throughout this process and continue to work towards securing our continued participation in the GPA.

Trade Agreements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how the status of women and the promotion of women’s rights are planned to be factored into the UK's Economic Partnership Agreements.

George Hollingbery: Our first priority is replicating the effects of the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to avoid trade disruption for developing countries. We will also look to see how we could improve upon these trade arrangements in the future.The UK is committed to increasing women’s role in trade, recognising the importance of trade as a lever for equality. Expanding women’s access to trade is not only the right thing to do and vital to women’s economic empowerment, but it also brings significant long-term economic and developmental gains.The Government has committed to a number of gender equality and human rights initiatives as part of our trade policy. For example, in response to the Buenos Aires Declaration on women’s economic empowerment, the UK committed to a gender-responsive approach to trade, recognising the importance of women and girls to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth.The Prime Minister has also launched the new ‘SheTrades Commonwealth’ programme, providing £7m new funding to enhance the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs in a number of Commonwealth countries.

Trade Agreements: Caribbean

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made in transitioning the EU trade agreement with CARIFORUM; and whether he has received representations for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Japan; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Canada; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made in transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Ukraine; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Moldova; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Georgia; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Cameroon; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with Fiji and Papua New Guinea; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, (a) what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with the Central American region; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, (a) what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with the Eastern and Southern Africa States; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on transitioning the existing EU trade agreement with South Africa; and whether he has received any requests for changes to that agreement.

George Hollingbery: I refer my Hon. Friend for Eddisbury to the answer I gave her on 7 November 2018, UIN: 185693.

Department for International Trade: Staff

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether staff (a) in positions related to his Department in overseas missions have been made redundant and (b) in his Department have been (i) offered, (ii) taken and (iii) refused reduced salaries in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

George Hollingbery: In the past 12 months the Department for International Trade (DIT) has undertaken restructuring in overseas missions to generate efficiencies, and ensure we have the requisite capacity and capability to deliver our departmental objectives across the global network. This restructuring activity has, in some locations, included redundancies.There are a range of circumstances where staff in DIT would be offered a reduced salary. A reduction in salary may result when staff members reduce their hours of work, accept a role at a lower grade or move from a role where London pay ranges apply to one where National pay ranges apply.

Trade Promotion

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the budget was for the Government's Trade Commissioners in each of the last two years, what the actual spend was in each of those years; what the budget is for the 2018-19 financial year; and how much has been spent in the 2018-19 financial year to date.

Graham Stuart: The Department delegated budgets to Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioners (HMTCs) for the first time in 2018-19. There are 9 HMTCs across 9 overseas regions. The budgets include the costs of locally engaged staff, non-pay related expenditure and devolved marketing expenditure in each of the regions. The total budget delegated at the beginning of the 2018 financial year was £59.2m and spend at the end of October 2018 was £29.8m.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Sleeping Rough

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department has collected as part of the Rough Sleeping Initiative.

James Brokenshire: The Rough Sleeping Initiative comprises a team of expert advisers who work closely with local areas to support their work to help people off the streets. Through this interaction we are able to monitor the progress of rough sleeping responses and support local authorities in obtaining a more detailed picture of rough sleeping in their area. The annual statistical release, based on street counts and estimates by all local authorities each autumn, allows us to assess the extent of rough sleeping across England.The latest publication is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/682001/Rough_Sleeping_Autumn_2017_Statistical_Release_-_revised.pdf.

Affordable Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2018 to question 186185 on Affordable Housing, whether Homes England has been given any annual affordable homes targets.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 12 November 2018



Homes England's Strategic Plan sets out their overall target for the Programme of at least 130,000 homes. We work with them to agree a delivery profile to achieve this, which is regularly reviewed as Homes England commit funding to delivery.

Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission: Public Appointments

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) due diligence was undertaken on and (b) assessment was made of the pronouncements on equality and diversity of the Chair of the Commission on Beauty in the Built Environment prior to their appointment.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 12 November 2018



The appointment of advisory roles entails the completion of due diligence checks; these were carried out and considered prior to the appointment of Professor Sir Roger Scruton FBA FRSL as unpaid chair of the ‘Building Better, Building Beautiful’ Commission.

Fireworks: Yorkshire and the Humber

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) people and (b) animals injured in incidents involving fireworks at private, non-organised events during November in each of the last five years in Yorkshire and Humber.

Jake Berry: MHCLG does not hold data for people or animals injured in incidents involving fireworks.Government takes firework safety very seriously and the Office for Product Safety and Standards is currently working with industry, retailers, charities and others, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Netmums, to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks and to raise consumer awareness on firework safety.

Landlords: Wolverhampton North East

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many landlords who own properties in Wolverhampton North East constituency are on the Government's register of rogue landlords.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: No landlords that own properties in Wolverhampton North East are on the database of rogue landlord and property agents which records landlords and agents who have received banning orders.Banning orders are for the most prolific and serious offenders and were introduced on 6 April 2018. An offence must have been committed on or after that date, and a conviction subsequently secured, before a local authority can apply to the courts for a banning order.

Ministry of Defence

Army: Bomb Disposal

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Army bomb disposal teams were called out between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2014 as a result of (a) viable and (b) hoax devices.

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Army bomb disposal teams in Northern Ireland were called out between (a) 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2016 and (b) 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2018 as a result of (i) viable and (ii) hoax devices.

Mark Lancaster: The Army is in the process of refining its data and I will write with a full answer shortly.

Defence Equipment: Cost Effectiveness

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how the (a) Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft programme (b) Apache capability sustainment programme and (c) Type 26 frigate programme have realised those efficiencies referred to on page 8 of the Defence Equipment Plan 2018.

Stuart Andrew: As stated in the Defence Equipment Plan 2018, the Ministry of Defence has secured sizeable cost savings on the Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (£207 million), Apache Capability Sustainment Programme (£132 million) and Type 26 frigates (£104 million). These are the result of efficiencies identified and realised by Defence Equipment and Support through transformation initiatives. In particular, on the Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, negotiations with the US Navy and Boeing achieved savings on the aircraft and the initial provision of capital spares. On Apache, economies of scales were achieved through negotiating combined requirements with the US Army and Boeing. And for Type 26, savings were achieved through using improved project control and commercial skills to adopt a much stronger negotiating strategy.

Physiotherapy: Pay

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to increase the pay of civilian physiotherapists employed by his Department in line with the enhanced terms being introduced in the NHS.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Physiotherapists employed in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are paid in accordance with the NHS Agenda for Change (England) pay arrangements. The 2018 pay award to MOD physiotherapists, as with all other Agenda for Change grades, is aligned with the pay agreement implemented in the NHS. The award will be paid in the November pay roll.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Inverclyde

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants in Inverclyde were in receipt of severe disability premium before transferring to universal credit.

Sarah Newton: The information requested is not collated centrally. This would require the merging of several complex datasets, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Dichloromethane: Health Hazards

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential dangers associated with the use of the chemical Dichloromethane in the workplace.

Sarah Newton: The risks associated with the use of Dichloromethane (DCM) are well documented. Breathing in vapour can produce narcotic effects including drowsiness, headache, unconsciousness and death. DCM has also been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a category 2a carcinogen. As the health effects can be fatal, the use of DCM as a paint-stripper is restricted under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH) and professional users must be trained and competent in its safe use. For all workplace uses of DCM, employers must also adhere to the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) to prevent or adequately control employee exposure.

Personal Independence Payment: Multiple Sclerosis

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis who were previously in receipt of disability living allowance and have undergone a reassessment for personal independence payments applied for mandatory reconsideration of the decision in each year since 2013.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis who were in receipt of disability living allowance and have undergone a reassessment for personal independence payments appealed the decision at tribunal in each year since 2013; and how many of those people had (a) the decision overturned and (b) their mobility award increased from none or standard rate to the higher rate.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with multiple sclerosis who are new claimants of personal independence payments (PIP) did not receive an award during their initial PIP assessment but subsequently received an award at (a) mandatory reconsideration and (b) tribunal in each year since 2013.

Sarah Newton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 22nd October 2018.https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-16/180083/

Universal Credit: Cancer

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was for payment of universal credit for a claimant diagnosed with terminal cancer and a prognosis of  less than six months to live in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Alok Sharma: The requested information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. In these circumstances, for claimants who provide a DS1500 medical report, Universal Credit will determine that they have limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) without the requirement to refer for a Work Capability Assessment. The additional amount for having LCWRA may be awarded, if not already done so, immediately. If the claimant does not have a DS1500 but is diagnosed as terminally ill then we will fast track the Work Capability Assessment process so that the report is provided within 48 hours.

HSBC: Pensions

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received on the HSBC Midland Bank pension clawback; and if she will make a statement.

Guy Opperman: Successive governments including the Labour government 1997-2010, Coalition and present Conservative government have had a consistent position on this issue. The Department for Work and Pensions receives a number of written representations on the Midland Pension Scheme, which is now part of the HSBC Bank (UK) Pension Scheme, about its integrated pension (or claw-back) policy from individuals and from Members of Parliament writing on their behalf, as it does on many issues. The Governments position on this issue was set out in response to a written parliamentary question on this subject, which can be accessed here. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-11-13/112544/

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has issued to decision makers on closing claims for universal credit for non-attendance at appointments in relation to the (a) welfare and (b) safeguarding of children whose subsistence income needs are dependent on that claim.

Alok Sharma: Comprehensive guidance outlining the reasons to consider before closing a Universal Credit claim are available to all staff across the Jobcentre network. Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons library and the Department is committed to refreshing this at regular intervals.

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the guidance his Department has issued to jobcentre staff on the (a) evidence requirements for verifying capital for universal credit and (b) viewing of mobile banking on a claimant's mobile device.

Alok Sharma: Guidance that the Department has issued to staff on the evidence requirements for verifying capital for Universal Credit is in the House of Commons Library. No guidance has been issued for viewing banking details on a claimant’s mobile device. It is the claimant’s responsibility to provide the correct information about their banking details.

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have moved on to universal credit during the natural migration phase without having a specific change of circumstance that would require a new claim for a legacy benefit.

Alok Sharma: Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit.

Social Security Benefits: Epilepsy

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with epilepsy have qualified for (a) personal independence payments and (b) disability living allowance in each of the last five years.

Sarah Newton: Statistics on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim outcomes (clearances) have not previously been published as Official Statistics at disability level. From 11th December 2018 they will be released in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The information requested is not readily available for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Statistics on the number of individuals in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence payments broken down by disability, age and date are already available on Stat Xplore:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk Guidance for users is available at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government Departments: Climate Change

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the long-term plans of each Department are able to react to the effects of climate change.

David Rutley: The Government is committed to addressing the risks and tackling the effects from climate change. Climate adaptation is integrated throughout policies and programmes across Government. As set out in the Climate Change Act 2008, Defra publishes the Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years which highlights the climate risks requiring further action in the UK over the next five years. This is followed by the National Adaptation Programme which provides a common framework under which all Departments work together to demonstrate how the Government will address those risks and increase the nation’s resilience to climate change. The most recent National Adaptation Programme was published in July 2018. Later this year the Government will publish, with the Met Office, an updated set of UK Climate Projections. This will be a key tool to help the Government, businesses and the public understand the future climate and enable them to make climate-resilient decisions. The UK has been a leader in this area for more than a decade and will continue being one with clear and strong deliverables.

Squirrels: Conservation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the red squirrel population over the next five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is committed to protecting and expanding red squirrel populations and tackling the threats that grey squirrels pose to them. This is a devolved matter. In England, the Forestry Commission works with Natural England and other conservation organisations and projects to help protect red squirrel enclaves and to allow the populations to expand.   The Forestry Commission also undertakes a number of actions to protect red squirrels from the impact of grey squirrels as outlined in the grey squirrel action plan for England. These actions include Countryside Stewardship funding for landowners who choose to help protect red squirrels within designated reserves.   Defra, in partnership with the United Kingdom Squirrel Alliance (UKSA), also provided funding for work by the Animal and Plant Health Agency for the development of a fertility control method for grey squirrels. This research, now in its third year, continues to show promise as one potentially effective method to control grey squirrel numbers in the longer term.

Beef: Imports

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the US Administration on the importation of American hormone-free beef products for when the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: The UK currently receives imports of hormone-free beef, which meets our standards, from the US and a range of other non-EU countries under the autonomous grain-fed beef quota, the high-quality beef or Hilton quota, and under World Trade Organisation (WTO) most favoured nation rates. When we leave the EU we will maintain our high standards for products being imported in to the UK. The UK Government will discuss the tariff rate quotas set out in the UK’s Schedule of Concessions on Goods under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade with the US and other countries as part of establishing its independent WTO membership.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Cumbria

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November to Questions 185481 and 185482 on Bovine Tuberculosis: Cumbria, what criteria Natural England uses to specify minimum effort in culling badgers in Cumbria; and how does Natural England measure the effectiveness and success of that effort.

George Eustice: Effort is defined as culling activity on a parcel of land, both cage trapping and controlled shooting. The area must deploy at least the same amount of effort as an effective High Risk Area (HRA) and Edge Area cull where 22 traps are equal to 1 night of shooter activity. The effectiveness of the cull in Cumbria is being analysed and will be published alongside the assessments of all other culls in due course.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Cumbria

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November to Question 185483 on Bovine Tuberculosis: Cumbria, how many of the 14 County Parish Holdings in Cumbria that submitted samples for gamma tests are in the badger cull zone.

George Eustice: Of the 14 County Parish Holdings in Cumbria that submitted samples for gamma tests, five fall within the badger cull zone.

Air Pollution: Children

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has allocated to projects to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra provides funds to Local Authorities via the air quality grant fund for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses and residents. For example, in 2016/17, the London Borough of Islington were awarded £50,000 to run a local school focussed awareness and engagement campaign through the air quality grant, and in 2017/18, Spelthorne Borough Council were given £145,188 to run an awareness campaign in schools across Surrey.   Local Authorities have a duty to monitor and assess air quality and to take action to reduce pollution where these breach statutory limits, and are best placed to determine local priorities. Their local knowledge and interaction with the communities that they serve mean that they know the issues on the ground in detail and the solutions that are best suited to local circumstances.   Defra awarded a total of £2.4 million to local authorities from the 2017/18 air quality grant fund; £3.7 million was awarded to local authorities in 2016/17, and £0.5 million in 2015/6. £3 million has been allocated for 2018/19.   The Government has also put in place a £3.5 billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, which includes £255 million for councils to improve air quality and a dedicated Clean Air Fund of £220 million for those local areas with the biggest air quality challenges. We have consulted on our new world leading Clean Air Strategy, which includes new and ambitious goals, legislation, investment and policies which will help us to clean up our air faster and more effectively.

Home Office

Asylum

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to (a) the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund and (b) other sources of funding available to his Department, what recent steps his Department has taken to develop and implement new guidance on the conduct of asylum interviews, and how the effectiveness of that guidance is being monitored and evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it and this Government is committed to delivering a fair and humane asylum system.We recognise that asylum interviews are a vital part of the asylum process, ensuring that decision makers have available all relevant evidence so that they can make an informed decision. To that end, we have published detailed Home Office policy guidance setting out how caseworkers are expected to conduct asylum interviews, which was developed in collaboration with external partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We are currently reviewing this policy and intend to publish a revised version by the end of the year.We systematically assess the quality of asylum decisions against a detailed audit framework drawn up in consultation with external partners, including the UNHCR, which includes checks on compliance with existing asylum policies and relevant case law.

Passports: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people living in Northern Ireland who were born in the Irish Republic after 1948 have been unable to obtain a UK passport.

Caroline Nokes: This information is not readily available and could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Reviews

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the review into the use of paragraph 322(5) to refuse applications for leave to remain is planned to be completed.

Caroline Nokes: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth, UIN 176334 on 16 October 2018, and to the letter I sent to the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee on 9 October 2018.

Drug Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Orders Regulations 2017

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has published any technical guidance on the scope of the Drug Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Orders Regulations 2017.

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Drug Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Orders Regulations 2017 are able to prevent Wi-Fi messaging on mobile devices associated with county lines activity.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office has not produced technical guidance on the scope of Drug Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Orders Regulations (DDTROs). However we have funded the establishment of the National County Lines Coordination Centre, which launched in September, and provides a central source of expertise and best practice for police forces.The DDTRO legislation has been drafted to enable the blocking of access to Wi-Fi service and future proof the legislation as far as possible against developments in technology. The legislation makes provisions for a communications provider ‘to take whatever action the order specifies for the purpose of preventing or restricting the use of communication devices in connection with drug dealing offences’. The definitions of communications provider, communication devices and telecommunications service are wide enough to encompass developments in technology.

Crime: Social Media

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2018 to Question 170665 on crime: social media, if he will publish a list of all the participating organisations in his Department’s social media action group.

Victoria Atkins: The social media action group provides a forum for police, social media companies and voluntary and community groups to take action against violence related content on social media.The group is chaired by the Home Office and includes representatives from the following organisations: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportMetropolitan Police ServiceGoogleFacebookTwitterSnap IncSt. Giles’ TrustSafer LondonCatch 22Ben Kinsella TrustMayor’s Office for Policing and CrimeMayor of London’s Office

Asylum: Pregnancy

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the (a) Asylum Accommodation and Support Services contract (AASC) and (b) Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility (AIRE) contract include reference to the Home Office pregnancy and dispersal guidance.

Caroline Nokes: The AASC Provider is obligated to comply with the Authority’s [Home Office] The AASC Provider is obligated to comply with the Authority’s rules, guidance, instructions and policies. The Statement of Requirements contains reference to Authority dispersal guidance and explicitly references requirements related to pregnant Service Users.The aim of the AIRE Service is to provide impartial and independent information, advice, guidance and assistance to help Service Users to understand and navigate the Asylum Support System effectively. The AIRE Provider is obligated to comply with the Authority’s policies and guidelines.

West Midlands Police: Pensions

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the pension liabilities of West Midlands Police; what plans he has to provide West Midlands police with additional funding to meet that liability; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: We are assessing the implications of changes to the public service pensions discount rate on all forces, including West Midlands Police. The Budget made clear that part of these costs will be met from the Treasury Reserve in 2019/20. As the Chancellor set out in his speech, the Home Secretary will review police spending power ahead of the provisional police funding settlement for 2019/20 to be published next month.

Cheshire Constabulary: Staff

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) other staff have been employed by Cheshire Police in (a) each year since 2010 and (b) the latest period for which information is available.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers and police staff employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical publication.Data on the number of police officers and police staff employed by Cheshire Police, as at 31 March each year and going back to March 2007, can be found in the Open Data Table accompanying the main release: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629362/open-data-table-police-workforce.ods

Cheshire Constabulary: Expenditure

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much grant was allocated to Cheshire Police in each year since 2010 in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms with the figures adjusted to take account of inflation.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the changes to the Cheshire Police Grant since 2010 on (a) community policing, (b) tackling serious and violent crime and (c) the force's ability to tackle sexual offences including rape.

Mr Nick Hurd: The police receive funding from a number of sources, including Government grants, Council Tax precept and funding for national priorities such as transformation. There have also been changes in the structure of police funding over time. Therefore looking at Government grants alone risks giving a misleading picture.We enabled Police and Crime Commissioners to increase local funding by £280m in 2018/19 through precept. This means that in Cheshire the PCC was able to increase funding by £5.5m.The Government recognised at the Budget that the police are under pressure from the changing nature of crime, and we are reviewing police spending power ahead of the 2019/20 police funding settlement.

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register: Proof of Identity

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to recommendations outlined in the Electoral Commission's statutory evaluation of the 2018 voter ID pilot schemes, what guidance the Government will be providing for the May 2019 voter ID pilot schemes.

Chloe Smith: The Government is committed to making sure that our electoral system is fit for the future. We are committed to working with the Electoral Commission on its recommendations from its evaluation of the 2018 voter ID pilots. Each pilot is working closely and collaboratively with the Cabinet Office to complete the design and development of successful voter ID pilots.

Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad

Alan Mak: What plans he has to change the time limit on the entitlement of UK citizens living overseas to register to vote in UK parliamentary elections.

Chloe Smith: British citizens living abroad retain strong links with the United Kingdom, no matter how far they have travelled.The Government is supporting my Hon friend the Member for Montgomeryshire’s Private Member’s Bill on Overseas Electors which will remove the rule that bars British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years from voting.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Simon Hoare: Whether the Government plans to undertake additional voter ID pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: Again, Mr Speaker, the British public deserves to have confidence in our democracy. Eleven local authorities have confirmed that they will be taking part in Voter ID pilots for the 2019 local elections. The pilots will provide further insight into ensuring the security of the voting process.

Prison Officers: Age

Marion Fellows: What recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on public sector pensions of the ability of prison officers aged over 60 to meet the physical requirements of the job.

Oliver Dowden: The normal age of 65 for prison officer retirement was first introduced by the last Labour government in 2007. Lord Hutton’s pensions review in 2015 considered the issue and did not recommend any special exemptions for prison officers. We are satisfied that this continues to be the case.

Civil Service

Marsha De Cordova: What recent assessment he has made of the capacity of the civil service to manage additional responsibilities arising from the UK leaving the EU.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is equipping itself with the right people and the right skills for the UK to make an orderly and successful exit from the European Union. There are almost 9,000 people now working on EU exit related policy and programmes across government.

Public Sector: Innovation

Bim Afolami: What steps he is taking to encourage technological innovation in tackling social challenges and delivering public services.

Oliver Dowden: I am determined that government harnesses the power of technology to deliver better public services. That’s why we are developing an Innovation Strategy for public services to be published next Spring and why I spoke at the GovTech Summit in Paris earlier this week. And in October, the latest round of the GovTech innovation fund opened. Ten challenges have already been selected for funding.

Treasury

Children: Day Care

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many parents in Northern Ireland applied for tax free childcare in each of the last three years.

Elizabeth Truss: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 23 October 2018.The correct answer should have been:

The table below provides the number of parents in Northern Ireland who have applied for Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) in each of the last three years. TFC was trialled in 2016 and launched in April 2017.We are promoting the scheme across the UK, including a marketing campaign which launched on 10 September 2018, to increase awareness and take-up of Tax-Free Childcare. YearsTotal Number of Applications2016220171,039 1,04420182,093 1,301

Elizabeth Truss: The table below provides the number of parents in Northern Ireland who have applied for Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) in each of the last three years. TFC was trialled in 2016 and launched in April 2017.We are promoting the scheme across the UK, including a marketing campaign which launched on 10 September 2018, to increase awareness and take-up of Tax-Free Childcare. YearsTotal Number of Applications2016220171,039 1,04420182,093 1,301

Help to Save Scheme

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to publicise the Help to Save scheme to working families.

John Glen: The Government launched the Help to Save scheme in September, following a successful trial. Help to Save forms part of the Government’s commitment to supporting people at all income levels and all stages of life to save. Working families in receipt of working tax credits or Universal Credit will find a link to the Help to Save application site at existing touchpoints they have with Government including the online Tax Credits Service, Universal Credit pages on GOV.UK and through a dedicated section on the site for Northern Ireland residents, NI Direct. In addition, Universal Credit work coaches UK-wide are signposting Help to Save to those who could benefit. Individuals can also go directly to the Help to Save site to apply, or if they don’t have access to the internet they can set up an account by phoning 0300 322 7093. For the launch the Government used a range of coordinated communications across a variety of channels to target potential savers. It is continuing to work with industry stakeholders and partners in order to further publicise the scheme, as well as using a mix of national, regional and social media.

Developing Countries: Debts

Patrick Grady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will issue a response to EDM 158, transparency of developing country debts.

John Glen: The Government recognises that ensuring debt sustainability and transparency in Low Income Countries (LICs) is important. UK-based lenders are subject to extensive prudential disclosure requirements under UK prudential and accounting law, including for material loans made to foreign Governments, which appropriately reflect firms’ exposures. Compliance with these requirements are independently assessed by the relevant UK regulator during their supervisory activities. Given the complex international nature of LIC debt, we continue to believe that internationally-agreed assessments and coordinated approaches to tackle debt vulnerability are most effective. The G20 have been supporting work on debt sustainability, including G20 sustainable lending guidelines and voluntary industry-led initiatives to promote debt transparency from private lenders to sovereign nations, especially LICs.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Social Media

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on promoted content on (a) Twitter, (b) Facebook and (c) Instagram in each month since June 2017.

Margot James: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) uses these platforms and other social media channels to communicate with specific target audiences on Government approved campaigns. DCMS has spent £5,078 since June 2017 which amounts to 0.00169% of the overall communications spend across Government this year.

Health Lottery: Prizes

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to decide whether to raise the limit on prize values for the Health Lottery .

Mims Davies: The consultation on society lottery reform sought views on raising prize limits. The consultation closed on 7 September after we had received over 1,600 responses. DCMS officials are now carefully considering the evidence and we hope to respond to the consultation in the first half of next year.

Theatres: Midlands

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support theatres and touring companies in the Midlands.

Michael Ellis: Since April 2016, Arts Council England (ACE) has invested more than £85,470,000 in theatre in the Midlands, including regular funding to their National Portfolio Organisations, National Lottery Grants for the Arts and Project Grants and Strategic funding. From the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, to the National Student Drama Festival in Leicester, ACE support a diverse range of work which has international appeal, is accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and plays a key role as part of England’s vibrant arts and cultural ecology. Between June 2016 and March 2018, Arts Council invested £2,737,902 in Strategic Touring in the Midlands region. This programme funded touring work focusing specifically on areas of low engagement with the arts and those that rely on touring for much of their arts provision. It also extended the reach of high-quality work by broadening the range of venues presenting it, as well as forging stronger relationships between audiences, promoters, venues, artists and producers.

Arts: Wales

Emma Little Pengelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the Government allocated to the arts sector in Wales in each of the last five years.

Michael Ellis: We do not hold this information. As Arts funding is a devolved matter, questions regarding funding decisions made in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be directed to the devolved administrations.

Cybercrime

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has any plans to extend the availability of the National Cyber Security Centre's Mail check tool to those with private sector email addresses.

Margot James: Active Cyber Defence is a world-leading initiative implemented by the NCSC to protect against the vast majority of high volume but low sophistication cyber-attacks. The NCSC have made the MailCheck implementation available for free on the open source hosting site GitHub, so anyone who is minded can implement it themselves. We continue to work with others to expand services to those sectors that need them.

Social Impact Bonds

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the savings social impact bonds have made to the public purse since 2010.

Mims Davies: Social Impact Bonds have been used by a range of commissioners, both national and local, to commission public services. DCMS has not estimated total savings delivered to the public purse using Social Impact Bonds since 2010. Several Social Impact Bond programmes have been independently evaluated and some of these evaluations estimate savings. The Government Outcomes Lab, a partnership initiative between DCMS and the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, provides links to SIB evaluations in their online publications library.

Social Impact Bonds

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent promoting social impact bonds since 2010.

Mims Davies: DCMS manages expenditure for the £20m Social Outcomes Fund and the £80m Life Chances Fund to promote the development of social impact bonds. These contribute to the cost of outcomes delivered by social impact bond programmes led by local commissioners or other government departments. £19,440,000 had been spent up to 31st March 2018.

Cybercrime

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department still plans to publish the Cyber Skills strategy in December 2018.

Margot James: We are committed to publishing a Cyber Security Skills Strategy by the end of 2018.

Data Protection

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost of the Cyber Essentials scheme has been to date.

Margot James: The Cyber Essentials scheme is largely self sustaining. The small cost to Government is mostly made up from proportions of time from members of staff within the National Cyber Security Centre and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This includes governance, technical oversight, policy development and contract management. The original start-up costs included an injection of investment from the Government's National Cyber Security Programme in 2014 of £766,000, but this does not include the staffing costs from the three departments which originally developed the scheme: GCHQ, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Cabinet Office. The financial model for delivery of the Cyber Essentials scheme involves Government overseeing the governance, technical oversight, policy development and contract management of five industry Accreditation Bodies. The Accreditation Bodies are responsible for marketing the scheme along with their Certification Bodies and providing the certificates to those wishing to achieve certification. The Accreditation Bodies and Certification Bodies charge a fee for the issuing of certificates and any related services provided.

Public Libraries: Barnet

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of whether Barnet is meeting its statutory requirements under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Michael Ellis: In December 2017, the then Secretary of State indicated that she was not minded to intervene by ordering a local inquiry under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to determine whether the changes in library provision in Barnet offer a comprehensive and efficient library service. The further representations received are being carefully considered by the current Secretary of State.

Public Libraries

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his Department's document entitled: Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021, published in September 2016, if he will publish the criteria by which his Department assesses whether communities are being provided with safe, welcoming and accessible physical and virtual environments freely open to all.

Michael Ellis: Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service that meets local needs. There is no specific criteria that requires public libraries to provide safe, welcoming and accessible physical and virtual environments freely open to all, although we would hope and expect them to do as much as can reasonably be done in this regard.

Public Libraries: Children

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of children accessing library services in (a) Barnet and (b) England.

Michael Ellis: DCMS works with the Libraries Taskforce and local and central government to promote good practice and innovation to sustain and improve library services provided by local authorities in England, including in Barnet. Library services in England can help transform lives, communities and society as a whole, including in relation to children by supporting them to develop and enjoy their reading; to learn and study; and to take part in events and activities. For instance, the annual Summer Reading Challenge, run by The Reading Agency, promotes reading for children at their local libraries and has resulted in many thousands of children aged 4 – 11 joining a library and accessing library services. In addition, DCMS provided £3.9 million to the Libraries: Opportunities for Everyone innovation fund to enable library services to trial innovative projects that would benefit disadvantaged people and places in England. These included a number of projects which promoted children’s access to library services.

Netball: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what funding his Department has made available to netball organisations in the UK in each year since 2010.

Mims Davies: Government has invested over £47M of Exchequer and Lottery funding since 2010 through Sport England, supporting England Netball and a range of delivery partners across the country to run and promote the sport.

Prime Minister

Business

Ian Murray: To ask the Prime Minister, who the business representatives are on the five new business councils formed by the her who will advise on how to create the best business conditions in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the hon. Member to the press release issued on 6 November 2018 which is available on the gov.uk website:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/five-new-business-councils-to-advise-the-prime-minister-on-post-brexit-opportunities